Oil well sand pump



Aug. 13, 1946. lll. G. HousToN ETAL OIL WELL SAND PUMP I Filed Dec. 22, 1944 INVENTOR G. Hoc/'.5 ro/V and 7 f 5 zf a.T//m,v M, 47.f zzz ff Fi Patented Aug. 13, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT -OFFIC'E OIL WELL SAND PUMP Howard G. Houston and John B. Humphrey, Inglewood, Calif.

This invention relates in general to oil Well pumps but more particularly to means cooperatively mountedin a well with respect to a conventional pump and Valves for controlling the flow of oil from the well to the surface, and an object is to provide means for introducing a huid into the bottom or standing valve section of the pump barrel for the purpose of iiushing and washing the standing valve and its seat at least once in each pumping operation, whereby accumulations of sand around the standing valve may be prevented and the pump may operate continuously over long periods of time without pulling and removing the standing valve, as is necessary by the use of prevailing methods and apparatus.

` It is well known in the oil industry that too frequent sanding up of the standing valve and, pump barrel occurs in the operation of oil wells, and such conditions require stoppage of pumping operations while the barrel is completely scavenged and cleared of the accumulated sand, etc. Heretofore the barrel scavenging and clearing operations have been accomplished by first withdrawing the standing valve and then introducing, through the medium of an emergency pipe, a solution to the pump barrel. 'Our Ipump,

however, is arranged for introducing a volume of water or other washing solution to the pump barrel at points in the vicinity of the standing valve on each down stroke of the plunger and, hence, at frequent and regularly timed intervals so as to prevent any undue accumulation of sand in the barrel. The wash solution is fed by suitable means above the surface of the ground through the barrel and through the top plunger Valve, and our invention comprehends the provisions of means embodied in the pump barrel and plunger for directing the iio-w of the solution to desired points of usefulness and notwithstanding the presence of certain necessary features requisite for said purpose, to provide for the ow of oil into and from the pump, as .in well known oil well pumps.

Other and more detailed objects of our invention will appear as the hereinafter following description of our improvements progresses.

We have shown a preferred form of our ap- I pump to which our improvements are applied for use;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on an enlarged scale showing a portion of a typical pump, top plunger valve, and our improvements cooperatively connected with the plunger and top valve;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional View on line 3 3 of Fig. 2; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are, respectively, cross sectional views on vlines fir-'ci and 5--5 of Fig. l.

Fig. 1 shows a casing C in which the usual pump barrel B is suspended and is attached at its lower end, as by means of a collar I to a usual perforated anchor pipe 2. A plunger P is reciprocally mounted in barrel B and carries a top valve T, while barrel B supports a standing valve S. Valve S has an anchor Xture '2a formed of a split extension 3 having enlargements 4 on its lower end which, when positioned properly, underlie an annular portion of a fixture 6 but are compressible so as to permit the removal of valve S and associa-ted yparts from the barrel when necessary.

Valve S is carried in a cage 'l and has a seat 8 on the upper end of anchor 2. A Valve vlift rod 9 is usually xed vto the valve S (Fig. l) and has a T head at its upper end arranged to be gripped by a suitable tool for the purpose of withdrawing the standing valve assembly from the well.

Thus oil from a subterranean reservoir enters pipe 2 through peripheral perforations 2b, and upon each up-stroke of plunger P rises through a central passage of anchor 2a, valve seat 8 and peripheral ports I0 in cage 1, and thence into the interior I I of barrel B. Cage l has a eenvtral boss I2 in which the rocl`9 is threaded for withdrawing the cage when necessary.

It will be noted that plunger P is 4of tubular form and the portion thereof below the top valve T is substantially extended downwardly in the direction of the standing valve S.

Now, referring particularly to Fig. 2, we will describe the connections between the ton kvalve T and our wash fluid supply means. Plunger P has an elongated skirt I3, formed of one or more connected sections and Yhaving a clear internal passage I4 extending therethrough for the flow of oil upwardly as the pump operates.

An uppermost section I3 of the plunger stem may be, as shown, threadedly attached, as at I5, to a cage I6 arranged to support the topI valve T, and an intermediate kValve seat Ymember 'Il may' be conned between the stem I3 and cage I6 so as to alord free opening and closing of the Valve while it is held 'against displacement 3 from its cage I6. The peripheries of stem I3 and cage I6 are of such diameters that they will oorrespondingly and slidably engage the bore of barrel B. Thus, oil from the lower end of barrel B must rise and flow through the control passage I8 at the top of stem I3,` a passage I9 in Gland G is attached to the lower end of a hollow pump rod R, which is threaded at 24 into the gland and carries an internal abutment 25 with a central aperture 25, thereby affording communication between the interior of the pump rod and a chamber 21 in the gland, a washing or flushing fluid being introduced through the pump rod and gland to the lowermost areas of the barrel, in the manner hereinafter described.

Valve T has an upwardly extended tube F and a downwardly extended tube F coaxially connected therewith and a passage 2,8 therein which affords communication between rod R and the interior of plunger P and barrel B at times. Tube F is closed, as at 29, at its upper end but has peripheral perforations 3D formed slightly below said upper end which, when valve T is seated, as in Fig. l, are closed by packing rings 3 I, but when said valve is raised to open position, will be open so that uid may flow downwardly from rod R through tube F, valve T and tube F'. A washer 32 is provided above the packing rings 3| between which and abutment 25 a spring 33 is compressed for applying pressure to the packing rings.

Thus, it will be understood that a washing uid can flow downwardly into the pump `barrel only when valve T is raised from its seat for permitting the flow of oil upwardly around the valve.

Of course, it is obvious that valve T only opens on the down-stroke of plunger P-v-hence, the washing uid only ows into the barrel at such times.

The operation of the pump is conventional eX- cept as to the intermittently timed introduction of the washing iluid. For instance, on each down stroke of the plunger valve T is opened so as to discharge -oil from the space in the barrel between valves S and T, while on alternate up strokes of the plunger the valve S will remain open for recharging said space while valve T remains closed. As in other types of pumps, the plunger can be readily withdrawn from the barrel and access to and the removal of the standing valve S is readily effected by the application of a suitable tool to the head of the valve puller 3.

It is obvious that liquid delivered from a source above the surface of the ground through pump rod R, gland b1 and valve T is prevented from mingling with the oil output in barrel B above valve T. However, all liquid introduced into the barrel below valve T is evacuated with the oil` by the pump.

The essence of this invention is the provision of means for permanent. application to an oil well pump for iiushing and washing away the accumulation of sand, etc., from the pump barrel and valves which tend to clog the operating parts, decrease production, incur unnecessary delays in operation and extraordinary expense.

We claim:

1. An oil well pump comprising: a barrel, a plunger reciprocable therein, a valve on said plunger for regulating the out flow of oil from the well, and means for injecting a desanding fluid through said valve to points in the barrel below said valve.

2. An oil well pump comprising: a barrel, a plunger reciprocable therein, a valve on said plunger for regulating the out flow of oil from the well, and means for injecting a desanding iiuid through said valve to points in the barrel below said valve, said means including tubular connections with said valve and a surface source of fluid, and means for closing said connections against the flow of a uid downwardly therethrough, except on an up-stroke of the plunger.

3. An oil well pump comprising: a casing, a pump barrel suspended therein, a standing valve at the bottom of the barrel, a plunger reciprocable in the barrel relative to the standing valve for inducing a transfer of oil from the well to a position above the standing valve upon each upstroke of the plunger, a valve carried by and operable upon each down-stroke of the plunger and closable on each up-stroke thereof for lifting successive volumes of oil on alternate cycles oi the pump, a pump rod for operatively supporting the plunger, and means connected with the pump rod and the plunger valve for introducing a desanding fluid to the barrel through .the plunger valve at each up-stroke of the plunger.

4. An oil wellpump comprising: a casing, a pump barrel suspended therein, a standing valve at the bottom of the barrel, a plunger reciprocable in the barrel relative to the standing valve for inducing a transfer of oil from the well to a position above the standing valve upon each upstroke of the plunger, a valve carried by and operable upon each down-stroke thereof for lifting successive volumes of oil on alternate cycles of the pump, a pump rod for operatively supportingthe plunger, and means connected with the pump rod and the plunger valve for introducing a desanding iiuid to the barrel through the plunger valve at eachup-stroke of the plunger, said desanding means including a tubular connection extended upwardly and downwardly from and through the plunger valve and coaxially disposed relative to the plunger.

5. An oil Well pump comprising: a casing, a

pumpbarrel suspended therein, a standing valve' at the bottom of the barrel, a plunger reciprocable in the barrel relative to the standing valve for inducing a transfer of oil from the well to a position above the standing valve upon each up-stroke of the plunger, a valve carried by and operable upon each down-stroke thereof for lifting successive volumes of oil on alternate cycles of the pump, a pump rod for operatively supporting the plunger, and means connected with the pump rod and the plunger valve for introducing a desanding iiuid to the barrel through the plunger'valve at each up-stroke of the plunger, said desanding means including a tubular connection extended upwardly and downwardly from and through the plunger valve and coaxially disposed relative to the plunger, and means intermediate the upper extremity of said tubular connection for -preventing the flow of a uid through' the plunger valve except upon the down-stroke of the plunger.:

G. An oil well pump comprising: a barrelfa plunger reciprocable therein, `a valve on said plunger, a hollow pump rod, a packing gland 'conneoting said Pump rod and said gland,v and a tube extending through said valve for at times permitting the flow of a fluid through said rod, said gland and said valve to the position of the barrel below the valve, said tube having means at its upper extremity for alternately opening and closing the tube to the flow of a fluid delivered through the pump rod as the plunger is recip-v rocated.

7. An oil well pump comprising: a casing, a pump barrel suspended therein, a plunger reciprocable in the barrel and having a valve for regulating the flow of oil through the plunger, a hollow pump rod for operatively supporting the plunger, and means for affording direct com munication between the pump rod and that part of the barrel below said valve on each alternate stroke of the plunger for injecting a Washing liquid to the lower portion of the barrel.

8. An oil well pump comprising: a casing, a pump barrel suspended therein, a plunger reciprocable in the barrel and having a valve for regulating the flow of oil through the plunger, a hollow pump rod for operatively supporting the plunger, and means for affording direct communication between the pump rod and that part of the barrel below said valve on each alternate stroke of theV plunger for injecting a washing liquid to the lower portion of the barrel, said means including a passage through the plunger valve sealed against communication with' the outlet of the barrel.

9. An oil well pump comprising: a casing, a pump barrel suspended therein, a plunger recipn rocable in the barrel and having a valve for regulating the flow of oil through the plunger, a hollow pump rod for operatively supporting the plunger, and means for affording direct communication between the pump rod and that part of the barrel below said valve on each alternate stroke of the plunger for injecting a Washing liquid to the lower portion of the barrel, said liquid injecting means being under control of the plunger valve.

10. An oil well pump comprising: a barrel, a`

plunger therein having a valve for regulating the output of the well, and means coaxial with Said valve and sealed against communication with the output passage of the barrel for introducing a liquid through the valve to the lower portion of the' barrel at alternate strokes of the plunger.

11. An oil well pump comprising: a casing, a barrel suspended therein, a standing valve operatively supported at the lower end of the barrel for regulating the flow of oil from the well to the barrel, a valve carried by the plunger for regulating the output of oil from the barrel and means connected with said output valve and under the control thereof for introducing a washing liquid to the vicinity of the standing valve at regularly timed intervals during the operation of the pump.

12. An oil well pump comprising: a casing, a barrel suspended therein, a standing valve operatively supported at the lower end of the barrel for regulating the flow of oil from the well to the barrel, a valve carried by the plunger for regulating the output of oil from the barrel and means connected with said output valve and under the control thereof for introducing a washing liquid to the vicinity of the standingV valve at regularly timed intervals during the operation of the pump, said means including a passage through said plunger valve through which a liquid from a source thereabove is delivered to a portion of the barrel adjacent to the standing valve.

13. An oil well pump comprising: a casing, a barrel suspended therein., a standing valve operatively supported at the lower end of the barrel for regulating the flow of oil from the well to the barrel, a valve carried by the plunger for regulating the output of oil from the barrel and means connected with said output valve and under the control thereof for introducing a washing liquid to the vicinity of the standing valve at regularly timed intervals during the operation of the pump, a hollow pump rod for supporting the plunger, said means leading from the interior of the pump rod to and through the plunger valve, and being arranged to prevent communication of the delivered liquid with the portion of the barrel above Y the plunger valve.

14. An oil well pump comprising: a barrel, a plunger reciprocable therein, valve means in said barrel for controlling the output of the well, ahollow rod for operatively supporting said plunger, and means for introducing a iuid from a source of supply on the surface through the pump rod to the lower valved portion of the barrel at alternate strokes of the plunger, said valve means including a pair of spaced valves between which volumes of oil are held and exhausted upon each downstroke of the plunger, the uppermost of said valves having a passage therethrough to permit the iioW of a liquid from said pump rod through the valve on each downstroke of the plunger.

15. An oil well pump comprising: a barrel, a

plunger reciprocable therein, a valve on said plunger for regulating the out flow of oil from the Well, and means for injecting a desanding fluid through said valve to points in the barrel below said valve, said means including a valve mechanism to close the iiow of liuid during a part ci the travel cycle of the plunger.

HOWARD G. HOUSTON.

VJOHN B. HUMPHREY. 

